Chapter 31 Blocked Again?
Chapter 31 Blocked Again?
This unexpected response made Shana raise an eyebrow.
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Men in this circle were especially pragmatic when choosing a partner. Beyond family background, looks, and physique, there was one crucial factor: they wanted someone obedient, graceful, and poised.
Someone who could be shown off in public yet was easy to control. Even if the man’s behavior were less than proper outside, there would be no risk of drama at home.
A true outlier would always remain an outlier.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”
Cyrus’s voice broke Shana’s train of thought. She realized she had been staring at him. With a faint smile, she replied, “No, I think your approach is quite admirable.”
Polite flattery is a mutual exchange of compliments.
Cyrus’s lips curved ever so slightly.
After a moment’s thought, he said, “I know a jade collector who has some rare and unique pieces. If you’re interested, I could introduce you to him.”
No matter how difficult the path ahead might seem, with faith and determination, there’s always a way forward.
Shana’s eyes lit up, and she nodded. “Perfect timing! I need something like that. I’d greatly appreciate the introduction.”
Cyrus chuckled. “No need to be so formal. I’ll give him a call.”
He pulled out his phone and dialed.
After finishing the conversation, he turned to Shana, looking slightly apologetic. “Shana, Mr. Johnson Senior is leaving the country tomorrow for an exhibit, and he’s unsure when he’ll be back. If you want to pick out a gift, it has to be today. However, he lives quite far away. Can you make it?”
“Of course,” Shana answered without hesitation.
Distance didn’t matter; finding the right apology gift was the priority.
“Alright, then let’s take my car.”
Cyrus pulled the car around, and Shana climbed into the passenger seat. They merged into traffic.
That evening, Henry drove back to Moonville Bay. As he got out of the car, he instinctively glanced up at the master bedroom window on the second floor. The lights were still off.
His brows furrowed slightly before he strode inside.
Judy greeted him. “Welcome back, Mr. Henry.”
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Chapter 31 Blocked Again?
Changing his shoes and removing his coat, Henry asked, “Where’s Mrs. Floyd?”
“She hasn’t returned yet,” Judy answered honestly.
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Earlier in the day, Henry had called to inform Judy that Shana would be moving back in and asked her to prepare dinner for Shana. Yet, Shana hadn’t shown up.
Henry’s hand froze midway through loosening his tic. “She’s not back yet?”
Though his tone was calm, Judy felt a chill run down her spine.
Henry and Shana had been at odds for some time, and his mood had been noticeably sour. Judy had been hoping Shana would come back soon; otherwise, she wasn’t sure how long she could endure the tension.
After a moment’s hesitation, Judy cautiously suggested, “Maybe something came up and delayed her. Mr. Henry, perhaps you could give her a call?”
Henry didn’t respond. Without a word, he ascended the stairs with an impassive expression.
In the bedroom, he yanked off his tie and tossed it onto the bed. He glanced at the time before picking up his phone to call Shana.
A cold automated message came through. “The number you have dialed is currently unavailable…
Henry’s sharp features darkened immediately.
Blocked again? How ungrateful can she be?
He opened WhatsApp, found Shana’s profile picture, and sent a series of messages.
“Shana, do you know what time it is? Where are you?”
“You promised to move back in today. I expect to see you here within the hour.”
“Shana, don’t test my patience. You won’t like the consequences.”
Henry’s messages went unanswered.
Shana initially assumed that when Cyrus said it was “quite far,” he meant somewhere in the suburbs. She never imagined it would be close to the next city.
After traveling on the highway for four hours, they arrived by evening.
Thankfully, Cyrus hadn’t exaggerated. Kyril Johnson’s collection included several jade–carved angel statues of exceptional quality, rivaling those of Gleaming Gems Boutique.
Although Kyril was initially reluctant to sell, Shana didn’t give up on persuading him. Coupled with Kyril’s good rapport with Cyrus, he eventually agreed–at a discounted “friendship price,” no less.
To express her gratitude, Shana treated them to dinner before they began the long journey back. On the way, a traffic accident caused further delays, so by the time Cyrus dropped Shana off at the
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Chapter 31 Blocked Again?
entrance of Moonville Bay, it was already midnight.
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Seeing the exhaustion etched on Cyrus’s face, Shana felt a pang of guilt. “Cyrus, I can’t thank you enough for today. You’ve helped me a lot. Let me treat you to a big meal sometime!”
“Sure,” Cyrus replied, not bothering to decline.
He got out of the car, walked to the trunk, and lifted the bag containing the angel statue before handing it
to her.
Shana carefully accepted it, cradling it in her arms.
“Drive safe,” she said with a smile.
“Will do.”
Cyrus got back into the car, rolled down the window, and waved lightly when he noticed she was still standing there. “Go on in.”
The car engine roared to life, and Shana watched as his vehicle disappeared into the dark. Only then did she turn and head inside.
When Cyrus had asked where she wanted to go after leaving the highway, she’d initially planned to return to Cheryl’s apartment since her luggage was still there.
However, the poor signal at Kyril’s estate had kept her from checking her phone until now. It was only then she saw the barrage of urgent, almost menacing messages Henry had sent.
After a moment of hesitation, she decided to return here instead.
The villa was shrouded in darkness. By this hour, Henry was usually already asleep. He adhered to such a strict schedule that his early nights rivaled those of an elderly man.
Shana quietly changed her shoes at the door.
She’d had an exhausting day–arguing with Kate, traveling over eight hours–leaving her completely drained. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with Henry’s temper.
But just as she reached the foot of the stairs, she heard footsteps above.
Startled, she looked up sharply.
Henry stood at the top of the staircase, hands in his pockets, radiating a cold, menacing aura. He glared down at her, his eyes like daggers piercing through the dim light. He resembled a grim reaper lurking in the shadows who had come to claim a soul.
Shana’s heart raced, causing her to stumble back and almost lose her balance, Luckily, she caught the railing in time to steady herself.
Pressing a hand to her chest, she took several deep breaths to calm down.
“That was unnecessary, Mr. Floyd! You nearly scared me to death!” She snapped.
Henry let out a chilling laugh. “If you’ve done nothing wrong, what’s there to be afraid of?”
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Chapter 31 Blocked Again?
Shana bit back a retort. She’d merely returned late, and only because of Kate,
“Shana,” Henry continued icily, “I called, and you didn’t answer, I sent messages, and you ignored them. What’s the point of having a phone? Is it a paperweight? Or are your ears just for decoration?”
She acted as if she hadn’t heard the sarc
and replied calmly, “Oh? Is that so? My phone ran out of
battery and shut off automatically. That’s why I missed your messages”
“And for the record, I wasn’t out wasting time. I was taking care of serious business” She lifted the bay, the was holding. “I was following your instructions and picking out a gift for Mrs. Grant, wasn’t I?
Henry’s dark eyes flicked to the bag, his lips pressing into a thin line. After a brief pause, he asked a completely unrelated question. “You spent the entire afternoon and evening with Cyrus?
Shana froze for a second before realizing he must have seen Cyrus drop her off,
There was no reason to hide it, so she nodded. “Yes, he happened to …”
Before she could finish, Henry cut her off sharply. “Shana, I asked you to find a gift, not a man!”
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Chapter 32 Be a Man
